Cal rugby player paralyzed after suffering injury during game

The Cal rugby team was supposed to be celebrating after winning a championship final on Saturday, but instead the team and their families are heartbroken after one of their players was severely injured. (KGO-TV)

The Cal rugby team was supposed to be celebrating after winning a championship final on Saturday, but instead the team and their families are heartbroken after one of their players was severely injured.

Robert Paylor was left paralyzed after falling on his head.

Nathan Becker, also a rugby player, is his housemate. "It's tough for all of us. It casts a shadow on the victory, it's not right," he said.

Paylor's family issued a statement. "Robert is currently working on stabilizing his condition so he can start rehabilitation. The injury paralyzed his lower body with limited motion in his arms."

The injury occurred just three minutes into the match. Paylor, a sophomore from Cal from El Dorado Hills, had surgery that evening which doctors hope will give him a greater chance of regaining movement.